Top 10 of 2013: Best Blushes

I went through all of the blushes I’ve reviewed in 2013, which was around 200 in total, and these were some of my very, very favorites. I could have given you a much longer list, so when there was just a really amazing formula, I limited myself to picking just one shade, but I’ve included a link to the formula itself where you can also check out other shades available! Naturally, as these are my personal favorites, you’ll likely notice a warmer tone to most, plus an inclination towards coral… I cannot tell a lie: I love coral blushes!

• Chanel Presage (62) Le Blush Creme de Chanel — a warm-toned, medium-dark orange with a hint of pink, but I loved every single shade released in this formula (see them all here!)
• Illamasqua Peaked Velvet Blusher — an amazing cream-to-powder formula in a cool-toned berry-pink
• Kevyn Aucoin Natura Pure Powder Glow — or take your pick, as the formula was incredibly consistent and fantastic; Natura is a soft, medium brown with rose and peach tints
• NARS Boy Don’t Cry High Voltage Blush — an intensely pigmented coral-red that was as gorgeous to look at in the pan as it was applied
• Burberry Coral Pink Light Glow Natural Blush — a dark pink with a hint of coral and warmth and a soft, satiny finish
• MAC Ripe for Love Blush — a medium coral-orange with a satiny sheen
• Chanel Accent (84) Joues Contraste — a softened, medium-dark rosy brown with neutral-to-warm undertones
• Givenchy It-Girl Purple Le Prisme Blush — a light-medium, cool-toned pink with a hint of lilac and a barely-there satin finish
• Benefit Rockateur Box o’ Powder — a mix of pink, beige, and brown with warm undertones and a satiny finish–almost rose gold as described
• NARS Taj Mahal — bold, vibrant orange with a hint of red and a golden sheen–one of many choices as I reviewed most of the permanent shades from NARS this past year

Top 10 of 2013: Best Eyeshadows

Top 10 of 2013: Best Eyeshadows (Cream & Powder)

When it comes to eyeshadows, by and large, most of the ones covered these days are found in palettes! There are definitely plenty of reviews of singles, but palettes outnumber them easily. To compile this list, though, I only think it’s fair to focus on the singles (that’s why there’s a whole top ten for palettes, so they’re not left out!) that made my heart pitter-patter and go all aflutter.  As always, I tried to go across formulas and colors, picking the best of the best, though I couldn’t help myself from choosing two from Dior’s new cream formula.

• Tom Ford Escapade Cream Color for Eyes — it’s a golden peach with a metallic sheen; but this (paired with Pink Haze) is my go-to combination for a bright, warm eye–I’ve reached for this nearly every time I have a “no-testing” day
• Sugarpill @#$%! Eyeshadow — a bold, warm-toned red with silver sparkle
• NARS Persia Eyeshadow — a superbly pigmented, burnt orange with a matte finish
• Dior Millenium (381) Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow — a glorious blackened brown with bronze and pewter shimmer
• MAC Brazenly Eyeshadow — a richly pigmented purple-berry with a frosted sheen (if every collection by MAC was as high quality as Nudes & Metallics, we’d all be in big trouble)
• Illamasqua Sadist Eyeshadow — a bold, vibrant cornflower blue with a matte finish
• Urban Decay Peace Eyeshadow — reformulated, it was so soft, smooth, and intensely pigmented
• Dior Aventure (081) Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow — a gray and bronze-shimmered black-brown (it says something when I buy every single shade available in a formula, as I did with this one)
• MAC Tailor Grey Pro Longwear Paint Pot — a deliciously creamy, satin-matte taupe with subtle warm undertones
• Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans (19) Eyeshadow — a cool-toned, bluish-purple with intense pigmentation (almost never happens!)

MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Skinfinishes Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Tropical Taboo Mineralize Skinfinishes

MAC Tropical Taboo Collection’s Mineralize Skinfinishes ($30.00 for 0.24 oz.) come in five shades: Adored, Gold Deposit (permanent), Lust, Rio, and Soft & Gentle (permanent). Except for Gold Deposit, the Mineralize Skinfinishes are on the lighter end of the spectrum, so for the majority of complexions, they’ll work more as highlighters than blushers or bronzers.  The textures of all five were less powdery than the blushes from this collection.  Gold Deposit was the only one that had a slightly sparkly/less smooth texture.  In my experience, MAC’s Mineralize cheek products don’t last as long as their regular powder blushes do.  I’ve only tested one of the five, and I’m in the process of testing Lust and Rio at this very moment and will update accordingly.  I expect to test the remaining two (which are permanent) tomorrow.  Overall, I think if you normally love and use Mineralize Skinfinishes as highlighters, one of the new shades is worth checking out, but the reality is they’re very similar to each other – each one slightly darker from Adored to Lust to Rio (Rio being the “darkest”).

Adored is described as a “coral with light beige pearl.” It’s a soft, pink-peach with a frosted, champagne shimmer-sheen. This shade is going to work best as a subtle blusher and highlighter on fair skin and then as a subtle highlighter on medium and darker complexions. It is true-to-pan in color, but the texture is soft and finely-milled to the point where it does tend to sheer out as it is applied, rather than build-up. This shade lasted for six hours, and it was noticeably faded after seven hours. On my normal-to-dry skin, it slightly emphasized pores but not too noticeably. MAC Lust is more shimmered and darker. NARS Sex Appeal is matte. MAC Stay By Me is more matte. MAC Light Year is darker, warmer. MAC Keep It Loose is darker. MAC Shell Pearl is slightly pinker, darker. 

Gold Deposit is described as a “soft reflective golden bronze.” It’s a warm, orange-copper with a golden-copper sparkle and shimmer. The finish on this shade is more metallic, and the texture is a little sparkly, so it’s not as smooth as it could be. It was very pigmented. I will be testing this shade for wear tomorrow. Physicians Formula Light Bronzer is more orange. Urban Decay Baked is slightly less orange, browner. MAC Center of the Universe is similar. MAC Glorify is browner, darker, as is Estee Lauder Topaz Chameleon. . This shade is part of the permanent range.

Lust is described as a “pale pink with cranberry pearl.” It’s a dirty, warm-toned pink with a frosted, slightly metallic, sheen. The color payoff was good, with the color getting to the same color as seen in the pan, and as a result, it is on the lighter side so medium and deeper complexions may find this acts more as a highlighter than much of a blusher. Because it does have a higher sheen in its finish, it did somewhat emphasize pores and skin texture. I will be testing this one today. MAC Rio is pinker, less beige/brown. Tom Ford Frantic Pink is pinker. Milani Dolce Pink is slightly pinker. MAC Legendary is less shimmery. MAC Born to Love is similar, slightly darker. MAC Definitely Defined is more beige. Bobbi Brown Peony is a touch pinker. .

Rio is described as a “bronze with bright pink pearl.” It’s a medium pink with a soft, frosted finish and warm undertones. It had good color payoff with true-to-pan color that was soft, finely-milled, and blendable. On my medium complexion, it added subtle pink color and sheen, so for fairer complexions I could see it working as a highlighter and blush more so than on deeper complexions. I will be testing this shade for wear today. Tom Ford Frantic Pink is less shimmery, darker. Milani Dolce Pink is warmer. MAC Stunner is slightly pinker. MAC Easy Manner is less shimmery. See comparison swatches.

Soft & Gentle is described as a “gilded peach bronze.” It’s a warm-toned, champagne beige with a frosted sheen. It had true-to-pan in color, though it is a lighter shade, so on all but very fair skin tones, it act primarily as a highlighter.  It only emphasized my pores/natural skin texture very slightly. bareMinerals The Love Affair is more beige. MAC How Beautiful is darker, browner. MAC Whisper of Gilt is more golden/yellow. NARS Nico is less shimmery, more beige, lighter. .

The Glossover

	Adored
	This shade is going to work best as a subtle blusher and highlighter on fair skin and then as a subtle highlighter on medium and darker complexions.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4.5/5

	Gold Deposit
	The finish on this shade is more metallic, and the texture is a little sparkly, so it's not as smooth as it could be. It was very pigmented.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 7/10 Application 4.5/5

	Lust
	The color payoff was good, with the color getting to the same color as seen in the pan, and as a result, it is on the lighter side so medium and deeper complexions may find this acts more as a highlighter than much of a blusher.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 7/10 Application 4.5/5

See more photos & swatches!

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Adored Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Gold Deposit Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Lust Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Rio Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

MAC Soft & Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish

New Product Alert! MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick Launches

New Product Alert! MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick Launches

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

M•A•C’s love affair with lips has led to the launch of a new M•A•C masterpiece. Introducing MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick – it’s larger in size and scope and lavishes lips with nutrient-rich moisture. Featuring a luxurious formula and gorgeous colour, enhanced with a mineral moist complex that provides lips with nourishment and lasting hydration. Lightweight colour glides on with ease for an intense bright with shade retention.

Mineralize Rich Lipstick (New and Permanent)

• Luxe Naturale Light beige cream (North America, Europe, UK, Asia, Latin America, South Africa)
• Posh Tone Soft warm nude cream (North America, Europe, UK, India, Latin America, South Africa)
• Glamour Era Mid-tonal warm brown frost (North America, UK, Asia, India, Latin America)
• Style Surge Neutral coral cream (North America, Europe, UK, Asia, India, Latin America, South Africa)
• Lady at Play Mid-tonal cool tangerine (North America, Europe, UK, Asia, India, Latni America, South Africa)
• Dreaminess Soft cool pink cream (North America, Europe, UK, Asia, Latin America, South Africa)
• Divine Choice Mid-tonal cool pink cream (North America, Europe, UK, Latin America, India, South Africa)
• Elegant Accent Mid-tonal warm rose cream (North America, Europe, UK, India, South Africa)
• Grande Dame Mid-tonal neutral rose cream (North America, UK, India, Latin America)
• Everyday Diva True red cream (North America, Europe, UK, India, Latin America, South Africa)
• Lush Life Deep cool plum (North America, Europe, UK, India, South Africa)
• All Out Gorgeous Deep warm red (North America, Europe, UK, India, Latin America, South Africa)
• Splurge Mid-tone cool tanerine (Europe, India, Latina America, South Africa)
• Utterly Delicious Bright coral Cream (Europe, Asia, India, Latin America, South Africa)
• Ultraprecious Soft peach cream (Asia)
• Red Coquette Vivid bright bluish red (Asia)
• Strikingly Fabulous Mid-tone warm bright pink (Asia)
• Smart & Sweet Soft coral cream (Asia)
• Ladies Who Lunch Light cool pink cream (Asia)

Availability: Available online February 28, 2013 www.maccosmetics.com. Available in stores March 7, 2013 in the permanent line.  March 2013 for International.

See more photos!

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick

MAC Cockney Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

MAC Cockney Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

Share on PinterestShare on Facebook Share on Twitter
MAC Cockney Lipstick

MAC Cockney Lipstick  is described as a “sheer yellow red with multi-dimensional pearl” with a Lustre finish. It’s a luminous, orange-red with very fine, barely-there gold shimmer. Chanel Coromandel is more orange Guerlain Genna is a touch more orange but similar. MAC Ruffian Red is not as warm-toned. Clarins Red Prodige is similar in color and texture/sheen. MAC Strut Your Stuff is brighter.  Cockneyis part of the permanent range.

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve reviewed Cockney, and when I first did, it was semi-opaque–there was some translucency–but when I applied the shade from Year of the Snake, it was closer to opaque than anything resembling sheer. There’s a really subtle translucent quality to this version, but you and I both know this is not sheer! (And even the previous tube I had, it wasn’t sheer.)  At the end of the day, I look to the brand to give me guidance on what their product is supposed to do and look like, and this just isn’t sheer.

The Lustre finish really sings here, because it gives a shiny, luminous finish that’s reflective but not frosted or metallic.  It just looks lush and juicy on, even though there’s no gloss!  When I wore this shade, it lasted for five hours on the lips (which is particularly long for a Lustre finish!), but it was a bit drying (on par with my experience with Lustres, though).  The embossing of the snake pattern on the lipstick did not seem to affect the texture or quality of the lipstick. I was also surprised that there was no price increase for the embossing.

THE GLOSSOVER

If you love that Cockney is more pigmented than sheer, then absolutely check it out, because it's a pretty lovely shade and looks great--other than it being slightly drying.

PRODUCT

9/10

PIGMENTATION

7/10

TEXTURE

9/10

LONGEVITY

9/10

APPLICATION

4.5/5

See more photos & swatches!

Share on PinterestShare on Facebook Share on Twitter
MAC Cockney Lipstick

Share on PinterestShare on Facebook Share on Twitter
MAC Cockney Lipstick

Share on PinterestShare on Facebook Share on Twitter
MAC Cockney Lipstick

Share on PinterestShare on Facebook Share on Twitter
MAC Cockney Lipstick

MAC Cockney Lipstick